SHAKESPEARE TODAY

Analyse contemporary Shakespeare productions with reference to live performances you may have seen or clips or footage available online. You should comment on what you notice about them and how they differ from what you know about the original performance conditions of Shakespeare’s work? (Don’t be afraid to point out the obvious).

 One of the best Shakespeare shows I have seen is A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Globe. It was amazing, they had modernized using costume, lighting and sound. Obviously in Shakespearears time there wasn't the technology that we have today, so I can imagine when Shakespeare put on this production it would have looked very different. But personally I thought the different music and dramatic lighting made the piece come to life. Back then they used natural lighting and maybe a few people playing instruments, so now everything has been upgraded.

 In Shakespeares time woman could not act at all on stage, well that is not the case today. I haven't been to one production that hasn't had a woman in the cast. There are even some companies that are all female, for example Smooth faced Gentlemen. So the actors on stage have changed, but also the quality of acting has developed.  In Shakespeares time there wasn't much competition talent wise, whereas now to be in a professional Shakespeare show you have to be amazing and go through rounds upon rounds of auditions. 

 The Globe Theatre burnt down in 1613, and was rebuilt in the same location in 1997. The Theatre is basically an exact replica of the original. This provides the audience and the actors with a feeling of what it could've been like in The Globe in Elizabethan times. The conditions are the same with open roof, so if it rains you get wet. The higher you sit the more expensive and Stage still so beautiful with Gold everywhere and incredibly detailed paintings.

 The tickets are a lot more expensive now than they were, as the meaning of money has changed but also theatre is now seen as big money maker. Before the Theatre was where everyone went for a good night out, rich or poor. And the Theatre still is however only a good night out if you have money. The class of people who attend the Theatre now mainly middle and upper class. This has meant less people have gone to the Theatre. 

 Back in 1600s the theatre was never quiet, if the audience didn't like it, they made it very clear. They would shout and throw food, now you must be silent in the Theatre out of respect for the actors. So the view on Theatre has developed to be modest and sensible.






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